When its never too old to learn...

For some reasons I feel like boasting a little about myself today, so yawners may be excused before your goose pimples get the better of you, don't say I didn't warn you...

This is something least known about me, I am learning the piano! Too old? I've heard that from numerous people... that its best to start as a kid... that fingers get too stiff when older... that music sense can only be developed from young etc etc. I've loved piano music for years, but all these while I am only good at listening while my fingers itch away. Often I dreamt of being able to play it with style one day... and hopefully melt a few girls heart in the process... haha!

It all began when my little princess of 5 started learning the piano last year, so at that time I picked up her book and correct her mistakes as though I know what those "bean sprouts" mean. I told myself its never too old to learn anything, so I took off from there all by myself. Starting with the 2-black-key drills and 1-handed "Mary had a little lamb", then went on to more complicated pop song pieces downloaded from internet. I was partly inspired by the fact that it feels too painful sitting at home staring at the piano but not being able to play it except my girl... like trying to derive maximum ROI! Also, I thought it might be a good idea to get ready a retirement hobby! The starting part was agonizing, I really pity my neighbours on having to put up with all the unpleasant din created by me then. But I think I've made good progress, at least I can play a few pieces more fluently now, some I do not even have to see the scores to play... yes!

My achievements to date:
"Canon in C" - my very first proper piece
"I believe" - my first chinese pop
"你有心" (by Jade Kwan) - I just love this canto
"约定" (周惠 version) - this is toughest, I don't even know what key this is but there are 4 sharps that got my fingers entangled C# D# F# G#, but I simply love this song
"月亮代表我的心" - in case I want to perform for my mother :)

At times I can't stop praising myself for having done all this from ground zero in less than 12 months... haha... self-amusement? not really... thick-skin? certainly! But on a serious note, the feat does make me realise that nothing is too old to learn. I hear this all the time, even LKY said that about his learning Chinese. But I did not really feel it until I do my piano stuff. What's my approach? It's the power of visualization.

Each time I sit in front of my piano, I visualize that one day I will perform in a concert... (maybe with some pretty ladies singing along too!) This gives me enough inspiration and energy in working my once uncoordinated and lethargic fingers through the keyboard. Its like psyching myself up to learn with the intent of performing one day, it works! Now my fingers have memory, they can remember what keys to press without me having to be conscious about it. In fact the moment I try to be conscious, they go haywire! I think my retirement hobby is quite in place now, really very happy about it. Forget about all the music theory and stuff, I just want to be able to play songs in a way that sounds like songs and not din, and hopefully my neighbours enjoy being my neighbour and shout encore!

My next piece will be "听海" by 张惠妹.